HP govt mulls to include health edu in schools

Shimla: Himachal chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Saturday that the state govt is contemplating including health education in school curriculum to create awareness from an early age.
Sukhu also assured that within a year, people in the state would have access to advanced diagnostic and treatment facilities as the health sector remains a top priority for the state govt. “Emergency departments in hospitals are being upgraded, and tenders for modern medical equipment for medical colleges have already been issued,” he added.
The chief minister said that the referral system in govt health institutions is being replaced with a robust system of care. To attract and retain specialists, the govt is considering increasing monthly allowances for super-specialist doctors from Rs 60,000 to Rs 1.75 lakh and for specialist doctors to Rs 1 lakh, he added.
The chief minister also underwent tuberculosis (TB) screening using a portable X-ray machine in a function organised as a part of ‘Ni-Kshay Abhiyan’ in Shimla, in which he was also the chief guest.
He also flagged off a mobile van dedicated to the initiative. The 100-day ‘Ni-Kshay Abhiyan’ is a significant step towards making Himachal Pradesh TB-free, he added. The campaign aims to ensure timely identification of TB cases, effective treatment, and increased awareness within communities.
He added that the campaign will be conducted in all districts of the state, with a special focus on vulnerable and marginalised groups. Sukhu appealed to everyone to actively participate in the Ni-Kshay camps campaign in their areas and encourage people to recognise TB symptoms and seek timely testing.
“The state govt has allocated an additional Rs 2 crore for the ‘Chief Minister’s TB Eradication Scheme’, supplementing the central govt’s budget. 13% of the state’s population is above 60 years, making early diagnosis and prevention crucial for older adults,” the CM added.